Magazine loader

ABSTRACT

An ammunition magazine loader include a main body, a rounds recess, a rounds abutment, and a magazine recess. Rounds are provided to the rounds recess and positionally maintained by a rounds recess bottom and first and second rounds recess ledges. With a magazine positioned within the magazine recess and rounds within the rounds recess, as the rounds are slidably moved out of the rounds recess, each round abuts the rounds abutment and pivots to orient the round such that its second case end is angled towards the magazine recess.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

This application is related to, incorporates by reference in theirentireties, and claims the priority benefits of the following documents:(1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/294,770, entitled “MagazineLoader,” and filed on Oct. 16, 2016 by Christopher Andrew Plate, whichincorporated by reference and claimed the priority benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/979,051, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,618,286,which incorporated by reference and claimed the priority benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/869,502 entitled “Ammunition MagazineLoader” and filed on Sep. 29, 2015 by Christopher Andrew Plate; (2) U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/473,994, entitled “PistolLoader, Method, and System” and filed on Mar. 20, 2017 by ChristopherAndrew Plate; and (3) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/478,090, entitled “Another Pistol Loader, Method, and System” andfiled on Mar. 29, 2017 by Christopher Andrew Plate.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ammunition magazines, and morespecifically, to ammunition magazines loaders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A magazine is a device used to provide rounds of ammunition to afirearm. An ammunition magazine loader is a device to facilitate theloading of rounds into an ammunition magazine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ammunitionmagazine loader, and method of using the same.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an ammunitionmagazine loader and method of using the same that overcomes at least onedeficiency in the prior art.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an ammunitionmagazine loader can be configured to load one or more ammunition roundsinto a magazine having a magazine shape, with each round including firstand second case ends and a pivot point. Such an ammunition magazineloader can include a main body, a rounds recess, a rounds abutment, anda magazine recess.

In an exemplary aspect of the invention, a main body can include a firstmain body end, a second main body end, and a main body length.

In another exemplary aspect of the invention, a rounds recess can extendalong the main body length, and can have first and second rounds recessends, a rounds recess bottom, first and second rounds recess sides, andfirst and second rounds recess ledges. The rounds recess bottom, firstrounds recess side, and first rounds recess ledge can define a firstcase cavity between the rounds recess bottom and the first rounds recessledge; and the rounds recess bottom, second rounds recess side, andsecond rounds recess ledge can define a second case cavity between therounds recess bottom and the second rounds recess ledge. Further, arounds recess can be shaped to hold the plurality of rounds therein withthe first case ends positioned within the first case cavity and underthe first rounds recess ledge and with the second case ends positionedwithin the second case cavity and under the second rounds recess ledge,with the first and second ledges acting as respective abutments holdingthe rounds in place against the rounds recess bottom.

In another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a rounds abutmentcan be connected to the loader, and can be at least partially positionedwithin the rounds recess and at the first rounds recess end.

In a further exemplary aspect of the invention, a magazine recess can bepositioned at the first main body end, and optionally, can have amagazine recess length that is less than the magazine length, whichobviates the need to accommodate the full length of the magazine intothe main body length and/or can allow a wider range of differentlengthed magazines to function with the invention. Further, the magazinerecess can be complementarily shaped to the magazine shape to retain themagazine in a fixed position within said magazine recess.

In still another exemplary aspect of the invention, the second roundsrecess end can be positioned at the second main body end, and can beshaped to compatibly accept each round into said rounds recess; and thefirst rounds recess end can open into said magazine recess, such thatwhen a magazine is operatively positioned within said magazine recessand the at least one round is slidably moved out of said rounds recessthrough the first rounds recess end, the pivot point of the one or morerounds contacts said rounds abutment to angle the second case end ofeach respective round towards said magazine recess.

In a further exemplary aspect of the present invention, a roundsabutment can be provided as at least one of a separate structure and anextension of any desired portion of loader 100, such as, for example andnot in limitation, an inwardly curved first rounds recess side.

In an optional exemplary aspect of the invention, when the one or morerounds are positioned within said rounds recess, each of the first caseends can be positioned between the first rounds recess ledge and therounds recess bottom and/or each of the second case ends can bepositioned between the first rounds recess ledge and the rounds recessbottom, with the former alleviating any potential stresses arising fromthe first rounds recess ledge against a projectile extending from afirst case end.

In another optional exemplary aspect of the invention, the magazinerecess can include a magazine recess bottom having at least one of amagazine retention depression and a magazine retention abutment, withone or both facilitating the static positioning of a magazine duringloading.

In still another exemplary aspect of the invention, one of the at leastone round can be a blank round, and another of the at least one roundcan be an active round.

In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, an ammunition magazineloader can further include a rounds retention recess. Such a recess canextend into said main body from the upper surface, can be positioned atthe second main body end, and can open into the second rounds recessend, such that one or more of the plurality of rounds can be moved fromsaid rounds retention recess to said rounds recess via the second roundsrecess end.

An exemplary method of using an ammunition loader to load an ammunitionmagazine can include (a) positioning the magazine within the magazinerecess; (b) introducing the rounds into the rounds recess; (c) pushingthe rounds towards and into the magazine via a last round, such that asthe rounds are slidably moved out of the rounds recess through thesecond rounds recess end, the pivot point of each round contacts therounds abutment to angle each second case end towards the magazinerecess, and when an exiting round exits the rounds recess, the exitinground abuts and forces at least one of the follower and a pre-loadedround in the magazine downwardly into the magazine against the springforce as the exiting round enters the magazine.

These and other exemplary aspects and embodiments of the presentinvention are further described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a illustrates an exemplary ammunition magazine loader according tothe present invention, in which a loader includes a main body, a roundsrecess, and a magazine recess.

FIG. 1b illustrates such an exemplary ammunition magazine loader with anexemplary magazine positioned within the magazine recess.

FIG. 2a illustrates an exemplary ammunition magazine loader according tothe present invention, in which a loader includes a main body, a roundsrecess, a magazine recess, and an optional rounds retention recess.

FIG. 2b illustrates such an exemplary ammunition magazine loader havingan optional rounds retention recess, and with an exemplary magazinepositioned within the magazine recess.

FIG. 3a illustrates a cross-section view of an exemplary rounds recess.

FIG. 3b illustrates a cross-section view of an exemplary rounds recesshaving a live round positioned therein.

FIG. 3c illustrates an exemplary rounds recess having a blank roundpositioned therein.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary loader having a rounds abutment.

FIG. 5a illustrates an exemplary rounds abutment provided as a portionof an exemplary first rounds recess side that is inwardly curved.

FIG. 5b illustrates an exemplary rounds abutment provided as a post.

FIG. 5c illustrates an exemplary empty magazine being loaded with around that abuts and forces a follower downwardly against a spring forceas the round enters the magazine.

FIG. 5d illustrates an exemplary magazine having a pre-loaded roundbeing loaded with another round that abuts and forces the pre-loadedround and a follower downwardly against a spring force as the otherround enters the magazine.

FIG. 5e illustrates an exemplary empty magazine being loaded with around that abuts and forces a follower downwardly against a spring forceas the round enters the magazine.

FIG. 5f illustrates an exemplary magazine having a pre-loaded roundbeing loaded with another round that abuts and forces the pre-loadedround and a follower downwardly against a spring force as the otherround enters the magazine.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary loader configured for loading anexemplary magazine.

FIG. 6a illustrates an exemplary loader with exemplary rounds pivotingabout a portion of an exemplary first rounds recess side that isinwardly curved.

FIG. 7 illustrates exemplary method steps of loading an ammunitionmagazine with a magazine loader.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be noted that this disclosure includes a plurality ofembodiments, with a plurality of elements and aspects, and such elementsand aspects need not necessarily be interpreted as being conjunctivelyrequired by one or more embodiments of the present invention. Rather,all combinations of the one or more elements and/or aspects can enable aseparate embodiment of the present invention, which may be claimed withparticularity in this or any one or more future filed Non-ProvisionalPatent Applications. Moreover, any particular materials, structures,and/or sizes disclosed herein, whether expressly or implicitly, are tobe construed strictly as illustrative and enabling, and not necessarilylimiting. Therefore, it is expressly set forth that such materials,structures, and/or sizes independently or in any combination of one ofmore thereof, are merely illustratively representative of one or moreembodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed asnecessary in a strict sense.

Further, to the extent the same element or aspect is defined differentlywithin this disclosure, whether expressly or implicitly, the broaderdefinition is to take absolute precedence, with the distinctionsencompassed by the narrower definition to be strictly construed asoptional.

Illustratively, perceived benefits of the present invention can includefunctional utility, whether expressly or implicitly stated herein, orapparent herefrom. However, it is expressly set forth that thesebenefits are not intended as exclusive. Therefore, any explicit,implicit, or apparent benefit from the disclosure herein is expresslydeemed as applicable to the present invention.

According to the present invention, an ammunition magazine loader can beformed from any one or more materials or combinations of materials, suchas one or more of plastic, rubber, wood, metal, a crystalline material,or any other man-made or naturally occurring material, for example andnot in limitation, insofar as the same if functionally consistent withthe invention as described. Further, a loader can be manufactured in anyone or more functionally compatible manners, such as through molding,machining, etc.

FIGS. 1a-2b illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention,in which an ammunition magazine loader 100 can be configured to load aplurality of ammunition rounds 3 into a magazine 1 having a magazineshape, such as a straight or curved parallelepiped for example and notin limitation, and a magazine length 2.

In an exemplary aspect, a round 3 can include a first case end 4 and asecond case end 5. Notably, rounds 3 can include one or more live roundsand/or one or more blank rounds.

FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate an exemplary loader 100 having a main body110, a rounds recess 120, and a magazine recess 130; whilst FIGS. 2a and2b illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, inwhich loader 100 can further include an optional rounds retention recess140.

As illustratively shown in FIGS. 1a-2b, main body 110 can include afirst main body end 111, a second main body end 112, a main body length113, and an upper surface 114.

As further illustratively shown, rounds recess 120 extends into mainbody 100 along main body length 113 and from upper surface 114, and caninclude a first rounds recess end 121, a second rounds recess end 122, arounds recess bottom 123, a first rounds recess side 124, a secondrounds recess side 125, a first rounds recess ledge 126, and a secondrounds recess ledge 127.

As illustrated in FIG. 3a, rounds recess bottom 123, first rounds recessside 124, and first rounds recess ledge 126 cooperatively define a firstcase cavity 128 positioned, at least partially, between the roundsrecess bottom and the first rounds recess ledge; and rounds recessbottom 123, second rounds recess side 125, and second rounds recessledge 127 define a second case cavity 129 positioned at least partiallybetween the rounds recess bottom and the second rounds recess ledge.

As further illustrated in FIG. 3a, rounds recess 120 can becomplementarily shaped to rounds 3 to allow the rounds to slidably movewithin at least a portion of the rounds recess and to exit through firstrounds recess end 122. Notably, rounds 3 can be introduced into roundsrecess 120 via at least one of first rounds recess end 121, secondrounds recess end 122, and any portion therebetween, all of which aredeemed equivalents to the extent functionally compatible. Furthernotably, rounds recess 120 can be provided with any functionallycompatible shape, and accordingly, any bottom or side described hereincan include any combination of one or more linear and/or curvilinearshapes, including any contiguous positioned side, sides, and/or bottombeing similarly, dissimilarly, or identically curvilinear.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3b and 3c, with rounds 3 held within roundsrecess 120, each first case end 4 can be positioned within first casecavity 128 and under first rounds recess ledge 126 and each second caseend 5 can be positioned within second case cavity 129 and under secondrounds recess ledge 127. It should be noted, however, that to the extentdesired and functionally compatible, loader 100 can be configured totoggle such arrangement such that first and second case ends 4, 5 can bepositioned in association with second and first case cavities 129, 128,respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 1a-2b, loader 100 further includes a magazinerecess 130 that extends into main body 110 from upper surface 114, andcan be positioned at first main body end 111. As shown, magazine recess130 includes a magazine recess length 131 that is less than magazinelength 2. Accordingly, in an exemplary aspect, the present invention isnot limited to a maximum-lengthed magazine, which can arise when amagazine recess is configured to encapsulate the entire length of amagazine. Further, in another exemplary aspect, due to the lengthconsideration above, main body length 113 can be reduced, as the mainbody length does not require inclusion of the full length of a magazine,rendering the overall length of the invention less and therefore moreconveniently transportable and/or storable.

As further illustrated, magazine recess 130 can be complementarilyshaped to the shape of magazine 1 so as to facilitate retention of themagazine in a fixed position within the magazine recess during loading.Accordingly, retention can be effectuated via a friction fit betweenmagazine 1 and a portion of main body 110 that defines magazine recess130. Further, alternatively or in combination, retention can befacilitated with at least one of a magazine retention depression 133 anda magazine retention abutment 134, which can retentionally engage acompatibly configured portion of magazine 1.

Also illustrated, second rounds recess end 122 can be positioned atsecond main body end 112 and shaped to accept each round 3 into roundsrecess 120. Accordingly, as first rounds recess end 121 opens intomagazine recess 130, when magazine 1 is positioned within the magazinerecess, rounds 3 can be slidably moved out of rounds recess 120 throughthe first rounds recess end and into magazine 1. For example and not inlimitation, a user can utilize their finger or any other desiredstructure that fits within at least a portion of rounds recess 120 topush at least one round 3 towards magazine 1, such that the at least oneround, and any other rounds between that round and the first roundsrecess end 121, slidably moves out of the rounds recess, through thefirst rounds recess end, and into the magazine.

FIGS. 4-6b illustrate additional exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention that can accommodate loading of a single feed magazine, inwhich loader 100 can optionally include a rounds abutment 150, whichcauses rounds 3 to pivot as the rounds exit rounds recess 120 such thateach exiting round is oriented with its respective second case end 5being angled towards magazine recess 130.

In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, rounds abutment 150 canbe provided as any one or more desired shapes and/or sizes to the extentthe rounds abutment is positioned, at least in part, within roundsrecess 120 and at first rounds recess end 121, so as to function as apivoting structure as described herein. Notably, being positioned atfirst rounds recess end 121 is intended to include being positionedwithin and/or outside of rounds recess 120, insofar as a functionallycompatible pivoting function is achieved. In another exemplary aspect,rounds abutment 150 can be connected to any one or more desired portionsof loader 100, including, but not limited to, upper surface 114, firstrounds recess ledge 126, first rounds recess side 124, and rounds recessbottom 123 (see FIGS. 3a-3c for the exemplary potions portions listed).In an exemplary aspect, in any of the embodiments herein, roundsabutment 150 can be provided as at least one of a separate structure (asillustratively shown in FIGS. 4 and 5b as a post) and an extension ofany desired portion of loader 100 (illustratively shown in FIG. 5a as aninwardly curved first rounds recess side 124). In any of such cases,rounds abutment 150 can be configured to abut one or more of rounds 3 ata pivot point 6 of the one or more rounds, which causes the one or morerounds to pivot with second case end 5 being angled towards magazinerecess 130, which as noted above accommodates single feed magazines.Notably, a pivot point 6 according to the present invention can be anypoint along a round 3 that causes a pivoting of the round as describedherein.

In another exemplary aspect, as illustratively shown in FIG. 5a, loader100 can further optionally include an outwardly curved second roundsrecess side 125 to facilitate exiting of rounds 3 from rounds recess 120and into magazine 1.

FIGS. 5a and 5b illustratively show loader 100 being configured to loada common single feed magazine, which can be, for example and not inlimitation, a GLOCK™ compatible magazine; whilst FIGS. 6 and 6aillustratively show a loader being configured to load a P90™ magazine.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5c-5f, when a last round 3b is moved towardsmagazine recess 130 and an exiting round 3 exits rounds recess 120, theexiting round abuts and forces at least one of the follower 1a and apre-loaded round 3a in magazine 1 downwardly into the magazine againstthe spring force S_(F) provided by spring S as the exiting round entersthe magazine.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, an exemplary method of using an ammunitionmagazine loader to load ammunition rounds into an ammunition magazinecan include (Step A): positioning the magazine within the magazinerecess; (Step B): introducing the rounds into the rounds recess; and(Step C): with a structure, pushing the rounds towards and into themagazine via a last round, such that as the rounds are slidably movedout of the rounds recess through the second rounds recess end, the pivotpoint of each round contacts the rounds abutment to angle each secondcase end towards the magazine recess, and when an exiting round exitsthe rounds recess, the exiting round abuts and forces at least one ofthe follower and a pre-loaded round in the magazine downwardly into themagazine against the spring force as the exiting round enters themagazine.

It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the mannerof making and using the claimed invention has been adequately disclosedin the above-written description of the exemplary embodiments andaspects.

It should be understood, however, that the invention is not necessarilylimited to the specific embodiments, aspects, arrangement, andcomponents shown and described above, but may be susceptible to numerousvariations within the scope of the invention. For example, while thepresent invention is illustratively shown used with a curved magazine,loader 100 can be configured for use with any shaped magazine, includingstraight, curved, etc. Further, rounds recess 120 is generally shown tobe linear along the main body length 113, however, can be provided withany functionally compatible shape or shapes to the extent desired.

Therefore, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative and enabling, rather than a restrictive, sense.

Accordingly, it will be understood that the above description of theembodiments of the present invention are susceptible to variousmodifications, changes, and adaptations, and the same are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appendedclaims.

Therefore, I claim:
 1. A method of using an ammunition magazine loaderto load a plurality of ammunition rounds into an ammunition magazinehaving a follower, a spring providing a spring force biasing thefollower upwardly, and a magazine shape, with each round respectivelyincluding first and second case ends and a pivot point, and with themagazine loader comprising a main body having a first main body end, asecond main body end, and a main body length, a rounds recess, extendingalong the main body length, and having first and second rounds recessends, a rounds recess bottom, first and second rounds recess sides, andfirst and second rounds recess ledges, with the rounds recess bottom,first rounds recess side, and first rounds recess ledge defining a firstrounds cavity between the rounds recess bottom and the first roundsrecess ledge, with the rounds recess bottom, second rounds recess side,and second rounds recess ledge defining a second rounds cavity betweenthe rounds recess bottom and the second rounds recess ledge, the roundsrecess being shaped to hold the rounds therein with each first case endpositioned within the first rounds cavity and under the first roundsrecess ledge and with each second case end positioned within the secondrounds cavity and under the second rounds recess ledge, the secondrounds recess end being positioned at the second main body end, and atleast a portion of the rounds recess being shaped to accept each roundinto the rounds recess, a rounds abutment, connected to the loader, andat least partially positioned within the rounds recess and at the firstrounds recess end, a magazine recess, in communication with the roundsrecess, and positioned at the first main body end, the magazine recessbeing complementarily shaped to the magazine shape to retain themagazine in a fixed position within the magazine recess and the firstrounds recess end opens into the magazine recess, said methodcomprising: a. positioning the magazine within the magazine recess; b.introducing the rounds into the rounds recess; and c. with a structure,pushing the rounds, via a last round, towards and into the magazine,such that as the rounds are slidably moved out of the rounds recessthrough the second first rounds recess end, the pivot point of eachround contacts the rounds abutment to angle each second case end towardsthe magazine recess, and when an exiting round exits the rounds recess,the exiting round abuts and forces at least one of the follower and apre-loaded round in the magazine downwardly into the magazine againstthe spring force as the exiting round enters the magazine.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein each round is positioned within the rounds recess,and each first case end is positioned between the first rounds recessledge and the rounds recess bottom.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereineach round is positioned within the rounds recess, and each second caseend is positioned between the second rounds recess ledge and the roundsrecess bottom.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein each round ispositioned within the rounds recess, and each first case end ispositioned between the first rounds recess ledge and the rounds recessbottom.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the magazine recess includes amagazine recess bottom having at least one of a magazine retentiondepression and a magazine retention abutment.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the magazine loader further comprises a rounds retention recess,extending into the main body from the upper surface, positioned at thesecond main body end, and opening into the second rounds recess end,such that one or more of the rounds are moveable the rounds retentionrecess to the second rounds recess end.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein one of the rounds is a blank round, and another of the rounds isan active round.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the magazine has amagazine length, and the magazine recess has a magazine recess lengthless than the magazine length.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein eachround is positioned within the rounds recess, and each first case end ispositioned between the first rounds recess ledge and the rounds recessbottom.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein each round is positionedwithin the rounds recess, and each second case end is positioned betweenthe second rounds recess ledge and the rounds recess bottom.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein each round is positioned within the roundsrecess, and each first case end is positioned between the first roundsrecess ledge and the rounds recess bottom.
 12. The method of claim 8,wherein the magazine recess includes a magazine recess bottom having atleast one of a magazine retention depression and a magazine retentionabutment.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the magazine loader furthercomprises a rounds retention recess, extending into the main body fromthe upper surface, positioned at the second main body end, and openinginto the second rounds recess end, such that one or more of the roundsis moveable from the rounds retention recess to the second rounds recessend.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein one of the rounds is a blankround, and another of the rounds is an active round.
 15. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first rounds recess side includes an inwardlycurved shape that provides the rounds abutment.
 16. The method of claim15, wherein each round is positioned within the rounds recess, and eachfirst case end is positioned between the first rounds recess ledge andthe rounds recess bottom.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein each roundis positioned within the rounds recess, and each second case end ispositioned between the second rounds recess ledge and the rounds recessbottom.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein each round is positionedwithin the rounds recess, and each first case end is positioned betweenthe first rounds recess ledge and the rounds recess bottom.
 19. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the magazine recess includes a magazinerecess bottom having at least one of a magazine retention depression anda magazine retention abutment.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein themagazine loader further comprises a rounds retention recess, formedwithin the main body from the upper surface, positioned at the secondmain body end, and opening into the second rounds recess end, such thatone or more of the at least one round is moveable from the roundsretention recess to the second rounds recess end.
 21. The method ofclaim 15, wherein one of the rounds is a blank round, and another of therounds is an active round.